Page:Ludus Coventriae (1841).djvu/216

Hym for to seke, wher so he be;
  In hast, good husbonde, lete us forthe fare.

Joseph. Than to Hierusalem lete us streyte wende,
  ffor kynred gladly togedyr wole gon;
I hope he is ther with sum good ffrende;
  Ther he hath cosyns ryght many on.
Maria. I am aferde that he hath fon,
  ffor his grett wyttes and werkys good;
Lyke hym of wytt fforsothe is non,—
  Every childe with hym is wrothe and wood.

Alas, my babe! my blys! my blood!
  Whedyr art thou thus gon fro me?
My sowle! my swetyng! my frute! myn ffood!
  Send me sum wurd where that thou be!
Telle me, good seres, ffor charyté,
  Jhesu, my childe, that babe of blysse,
Among this compayné dude ȝe hym se?
  ffor Godys love, telle where he is!

Primus doctor. Of oo qwestyone I am bethought,
  Alle of ȝour modyr, that blessed may;
In what governauns is she brought?
  How is sche rewlyd be nyght and day?
Jhesu. An old man, Joseph, as I ȝow say,
  Here weddyd be meracle onto his wyff;
Here for to fede and kepe alway,
  And bothyn in clennesse be maydenys olyff.

Secundus doctor. What nede was it here to be wedde
  Onto a man of so grett age?
Lesse than thei myght bothe a go to bedde,
  And kept the lawe of maryage.
Jhesus. To blynde the devyl of his knowlache,
  And my byrthe from hym to hyde,—